Enigmatic, mysterious, awkward, indestructable, ridiculous - just some of the words I've heard used to describe that most marvellous of birds this week - you can't beat Leach's Petrel.
Many thanks therefore to the award-winning Rich Steel for sending me these remarkable shots of one of my favourite birds.
I know the wreck is over now, leaving a wee black shimmering hole in the heart of any true seawatcher, but at least we have Rich's pix to keep us going till next autumn (unless we get another Leach's quality hooley this year).
Thanks Rich, ain't nothing wilder than a Leach's - birds that sail through your soul as effortlessly as they cut through the surf.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies.
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Very good pics series.
The 'walking on water' are my pick.
Smashing snaps as always from Richard.
I was on Hilbre Wednesday and Thursday plenty of Leach's. 120 day one. 110 day two (maybe some were the same birds) but none as apparently as close as these but good views nevertheless.
Most birds appeared from an easterly direction i.e. moving from the landward side into the W/NW wind (gale!). Many were feeding others just moving out to sea.
Weather was "interesting" spray then at the top of the tide waves breaking over the lifeboat slip and the hide.
Watchers in the latter had to sit and scope from the seats at the back to avoid the wet stuff hurtling into the front.
A couple of big green ones right over the top while I was standing on the slipway fortunately underneath the hide.
For a while the hide end was cut off from the rest of the island as a torrent of wave water rushed over the sandstone neck and into the sea with continuous driving spray and occasional heavy rain squalls to add to the fun.
All of the regulars, the "hahd coah" were wrapped up in full wetties, hats, boots overtrousers the lot apart from one bloke in shorts and what at first looked like hairy red tights but turned out to be his legs.
Not a lot else, a coupla three distant "skua sp." plus a Bonxie and the odd Manxie.
A few terns, Arctic and a Sandwich I think.
LT Duck and four Brents , pale bellied, presumably the first returners of the wintering flock.
A little stream of passerines zipping over in the teeth of the gale, mainly Meadow Pipits though someone had a Wheatear and I saw the odd Lintie.
The usual waders, stacks of Oystercatchers plus Knots, Turnstones, Bar Tails and Curlews going about their noisy business seemingly totally unconcerned about the blow.
Exhilarating , particularly getting to spend a night at the Obs. As snug as a pig in straw following food/wine/whisky with the wind and the rain and the sea battering around outside.
Back to the needle in a haystack task of trying to find a autumn"Yank" among the Ribble massed waders.
Ron